Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-23
Ghosts.

To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
On the Goth OF May, 1882, my wtfe's aunt, sister,
and nephew five years old, were walking through
Whitney avenue on their return from the Soldiers
home, to the Whitney mansion, which we had then
been occupying ten days. 1t was $40 p. M,
twenty five minutes after bright sunset, and not
yet dark. At a distance OF about fifty PAGES they
all saw coming toward them woman dressed in
black, without hat, and with plain collar and
cuffs. At first they thought it was another sister
OF my wife coming to meet them, and the little
boy cried out, "Aunt Chartie!" But in moment
1T was evident that she was not the person. The
woman turned to the south side OF the lane, and,
lifting her skirt she stepped over the paved gut
ter, disappeared behind tree-bOx. The other Two
| women were astOnished and the boy was puzzled.
They all went to the tree-bOx, and the boy ran
around 1t, saying, "Oh! where has she gomez"
They made no explanation to him, who to this
day, perhaps, has never suspected he saw ghost.
The younger or the two women was greatly agi-
tated and could not sleep much that night. She
thought it foreboded some calamity; said 1udg-
ing from past experience, "PrObably 1t has no
meaning whatever" And now, after nearly five
years, nothing has happened, so far as any of us
know, as consequence OF that visitation.
The next evening at the same hour, 8 40 p. m, I
went and examined the spot. Close by the tree
box there was an opening in the fence to the large
high, and the only object within great distance
was a cedar tree about % feet from the fence But
even that tree with a trunk not more than a foot
in diameter and about fifteen feet high to the
branches, could not have concealed woman be-
hind II. Furthermore, the two women and the
UOy COulu SIT any luONlUR ODJtCU up
right Stats Of the fence and they did look through
the fence at the moment the woman disappeared
behind the tree-boX; nor could she have gotten
out OF sight anywhere when they reached the
spot where she vanished. They are all living
now in this city and can attest these facts. The
tree has recently been cut down to make way for
q new street.
The apparition in this case was certainly not
subjective, but objective because. to my personal
knowledge, all three observers described the same
woman, the same dress and the same movements
at the same time.
1t was not long before our folks began to hear
hints OF the place being haunted but none OF us
were much afraid OF ghosts. We rather courted
their society, and during the three successive
that we remained there (nOSt OF us only In the
summer Season there were frequent apparitfonS
seen both day and night. Most OF the inmates, in
Guiding numerous summer bOarderS had some ex-
per1ence OF the kind. 1t was rather diversion to
have It. was one OF the few who saw nothing.
On the whole, the ghosts conducted themselves
toleraDly well. but sometimes they caused annoy
came to the bedside OF my wires sister and slapped
her In the face. But so Tar as we all KNOW, there
was no sig1lncance to any OF the MANIFESTATIONS
have RETAINED hitherto from giving this ghost
story publicity, out OF regard for the Two worthy
female owners Of the estate, but now that 1t has
the march OF suburban progress give the facts to
the public through THE STAR. w. II. BURR.
Correction or q Historical Error.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
VIII you allow me space to correct historical
error In the report OF interview with Secretary
Endicott, published in the Washington EVENING
STAR OF Thursday, 18th instant?
The report says: cdr. Baxter did not receive the
appointment on account Of the bitter opposition
which proceeded from those members OF the med
teal staff OF the army who had entered the service
regularly. DIR. Baxter Is one OF the surgeons who
entered In the volunteer service during the war
ana were afterward, by act OF. Congress. 1ncOrp0-
rated into the stan, and the opposition to his APP
polntment was a part OF the division which has
continuously existed between the two elements"
NO r0tu'ateer surgeons acre ever 'tnc01p0T0te6
into she stag 6y act Of Congress-" considerable
number OF these gentlemen became officers OF the
medical department, but, with one exception.
every one OF them "entered the service regularly,
I. G., by passing the examination required by law
or all candidates. and coming IN at the FOOT OF the
list. with the rank OF first lieutenant. The one ex.
OF the star he was selected by President johnson
and commissioned with the rank OF lieutenant
colonel, and was thus made to Outrank every sur.
ge0n in the army, including some diStlngulsne0
9meers whose entry into the service antedated
his birth. Many no doubt felt outraged by being
thus superseded. Whether the selection was wise
or otherwise is question entirely foreign TO the
purpose OF this note.
The volunteer medical officers, with the above
single exception, having entered exactly upon an
occasion for DIVISION nor In fact did any such div-
sion ever exist. Like the silly SANDER which,
shortly after the appointment OF Gen. Moore, was
spread abroad by many papers Of whlcn THE STAR
had been selected solely for political reasons the
| ton. j. +. H.
| The ROYALL CASE IN RICHN0ND-W. l. Royal,
who was nped in Richmond, Monday, for inumi;
Jailed for refusing to pay the fine obtained yes
/ terday from Judge Bond o writ OF haDeaS corpus